Bale loader



Feb. 1, 1966 F. 1 WILLRODT BALE LOADER '7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March l5, 1964 rum.

Feb. 1, 1966 F. L. wlLLRoDT BALE LOADER '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1964 Feb. 1, 1966 Filed March 16, 1964 F. L. WILLRODT BALE LOADER '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Frf/ Z. #W7/radi.

ATTORNEY Feb. l, 1966 F. wlLLRoDT BALE LOADER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 16, 1964 mm mm mm i. Q L mm" n wmfmm. .bl il NS m. mv n/m v k Sv mm mi vu vm NK WN M S n m. .QN ,m

BY Mam A T'RNEY Feb. 1, 1966 Filed March 1S, 1964 F, L. WILLRODT BALE LOADER A TTORNE Y Feb. 1, 1966 F. L. wlLLRoDT 3,232,462

BALE LOADER Filed March 16, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTQR FredL. #M7/rae# Feb. 1, 1966 F. L. WILLRODT BALE LOADER 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March l, 1964 A/f CL: 2E.;

INVENTOR. Fred L. #Wl/redt United States Patent O 3,232,462 BALE LUADER Fred L. Willi-edt, 5635 E. 17th Ave., Denver, Colo. Fiied Mar. 16, 1964, ger. No. 352,062 17 Ciaims. (Cl. 214-359) This invention relates to loaders for picking up bales and the like from a eld and lifting them onto a truck or other vehicle, the present invention being an improvement on the bale loader disclosed in Patent No. 2,733,821, issued to me on February 7, 1956.

Hay, alfalfa, and similar yforage crops are usually gathered in the held into bales that are formed and tied by automatic machines which deposit the bales in rows across the length of a field, consequently, it is necessary 4to gat-her the bales and load t-hem onto a truck or other vehicle as it is moved along the rows of bales, in order to haul them to la place of storage, feed lot, or market. Various automatic loading machines have been devised, such as the machine of the above mentioned patent, to lbe coupled to the truck or other vehicle for mechanically and automatically picking up the bales from the eld and depositing them onto the bed of the vehicle, however, such machines have been complicated, and are difficult to keep in repair because of the numerous working parts.

The principal objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide a lbale loader having relatively few working parts, that is lighter in weight, although of more rugged construction, and which requires less draft to pull over the iield.

Briefly, the machine of the present invention includes a frame for attachment alongside a pickup vehicle and which is supported by an inboard wheel and an outboard wheel, both located in lateral alignment. The frame has a pass to travel over the row of bales, and a single fork pivoted on the frame latenally of the pass, to be thrust into the side of a bale, impale the bale thereon, and lift it in .an arc onto the bed of the vehicle. The fork is set in motion by a trip mechanism that extends across the pass for activation by forward movement of the loader upon engagement with the bale. The inertia of the bale provided by swinging movement of the fork frees the bale to drop onto the bed of the vehicle. After, or just prior to, release of the bale, the power is automatically released and the fork is sta-rted on its return movement by spring means which carries the arm over dead center, after which the return movement is completed by gravity to its original position, ready to lift the next bale =to be encountered in the row. The wheels of the frame are so located that the lateral thrust of the fork into :the bale is backed by a portion of the frame carried by the outboard wheel.

In carrying out the invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is :a plan View of a loader constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the fork in retracted position, with the loader moving over a bale, illustrated in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the loader, showing the ope-rating mechanism thereof in tripped position, and with the fork thrust into the vside of the bale and ready to start lift of the b-ale onto the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the loader, taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1, with rthe parts in the position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the loader, with the parts in the position shown in FIG. 1, and showing the fork drive in disengaged position.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational View of the loader, but showing the fork lifting the bale for deposit on the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is la partial front elevational view of the loader,

ult showing the fork in position after discharge of the FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section showing the shaft for pivotally mounting the arm of the fork.

FIG. 8 is a detailed section on the line 8 8 of FIG. 4, but showing the drive in engaged position.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of the trip means, and showing the tripped position thereof in dotted lines.

FIG. l0 is a perspective View of the fork .and the parts of the fork arm, shown in disassembled, spaced relation, to better illustrate the construction thereof.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary View showing attachment of the tongue of the loader to the running board or bumper of a truck, hay rack, or other vehicle.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of fork head- FIG. 13 is a side view of the fork head shown in FIG. 12 in retracted position.

14 is a side view of the fork head in projected position to impale a bale thereon.

FIG. 15 is a similar view of the fork head in bale releasing position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a bale loader constructed in accordance with the present invention, and which includes a mobile frame 2 carried by an inboard wheel 3 on one side thereof and an outboard wheel 4 on rthe opposite side. The frame 2 is preferably of unitary construction in that the members thereof are welded together, although the frame may be made in sections bolted together. The frame illustrated is composed of a main transverse member 5 having end portions 6 Land 7 odset relatively to each other by an angular midportion 8 (FIG. 1), so that the end portion 7 is positioned forwardly of the end portion 6. The frame 2 also includes a tongue 9 having a rear end 10 connected with the end portion 6 near the odset, and which extends forwardly therefrom at a slight angle to connect the forward end 11 with a part of a truck or other vehicle on which bales lare to be loaded, and which pulls the loader, as later described.

The tongue 9 preferably comprises telescoping sections 12- and 13 that `are adjustably secured together by a fastemng device 14, so as to accommodate the length of the tongue to the point of attachment thereof to the vehicle, such as the running board, front bumper or other part thereof, by means of .a bracket 15, as shown in FIG. 11. The tongue 9 is braced with respect to the transverse member 5 by an angular brace 16 having one end secured to the inner end of the end portion 7 at the point of the ofiset thereof, and its other end connected with the forward end of the telescoping section 12 of the tongue, as best shown in FIG. 1.

Connected with the outer end portion 7 is an inner depending arm 17 of a yoke 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3), having the outer depending arm 19 thereof connected with a longitudinal frame member 2t). The yoke 18 thus pro* vides an entrance to a bale pass 21 extending alongside the inner side of the longitudinal frame member 20. The forward end 22 of the longitudinal member 20 diverges outwardly from the bale pass and has an outwardly curved terminal 23. Extending outwardly from the lower end of the inner arm 17 of the yoke 18 is a correspondingly shaped member 24, to cooperate with the terminal end 23 in pushing the bales into the bale pass, as later to be described.

Rotatably mounted on the end portion 6 of the main frame member is the inboard wheel 3 for supporting that side of the frame and which provides traction 'for actuating the operating mechanism of the loader, as laterl described. Carried on the longitudinal member 20 and in axial alignment with the end portion 6 is a bracket 25 rotatably mounting the outboard wheel 4 for supporting that side of the frame.

The frame 2 also includes an upright member 26, having its lower end welded to the end portion 6 of the frame member to extend upwardly alongside the bed 27 of the truck, and which carries on the upper end thereof a sleeve member 28 having the axis thereof extending in a fore and aft direction. The rear end 29 of the longitudinal member 20 of the frame diverges outwardly from the bale pass at a slight angle, to provide a cam track 30 for a tripping mechanism later to be described. The end 29 at the rear end of the cam track hasan outwardly curved terminal 31, to provide a stop for the tripping mechanism under thrust of a bale. Attached to the longitudinal member 20 and extending from the outermost arm of the yoke 1S to the start of the cam track 30 is an abutment board 32 for backing the outer side of the bales when they are impaled by a loading fork 33, as now to be described.

Rigidly mounted within the sleeve member 28 at the upper end of the upright 26 is a shaft 34 (FIG. 7), having ends 35 and 36 projecting from the ends of the sleeve member 28. Pivotally mounted on the forward end 35 of the shaft is the loading fork 33, which includes a preferably tubular arm 38 extending laterally from a bearing sleeve 39 which is slewed upon the forward end 35 of the shaft and which is retained thereon by a plate 49 vfixed' to the outer end of the shaft, preferably by welding as indicated at 41 (FIG. 7).

The opposite end of the arm 38 is formed to provide spaced apart ears 42 and 43, as best shown in FIG. l0, and extending from the arm at the base of the ears is a rigid tongue 44 (FIG. 10). Hinged between the ears 42 and 43 is a pivotal extension 45 of the fork arm, the pivotal connection being provided by means of a hinge pin 46 extending through an opening 47 in the extension 45 and through registering openings 48 and 49 in the ears 42 and 43. The forward end of the extension 45 terminates alongside of the bale pass opposite the abutment board 32, to carry a fork head 50. The fork head 50 includes a transverse member 51 having spaced apart ears 52 and 53 to accommodate the terminal end of the arm extension 45 therebetween, and which are pivotally connected thereto by a 'hinge pin 54 extending through openings 55 in the ears and Yregistering openings 56 in the end of the extension (FIG. lO). Extending from the transverse member 51 of the head are tines 58 and 59 for impaling a bale thereon, as later to be described.

The fork arm 38, when mounted on the end 35 of the shaft 34, is located about midway of the length of the bale pass (FIG. l), so that the tines are in position to impale the bale at a point midway the length thereof to Substantially balance the bale thereon. When the fork mechanism is in its normal at rest position, the arm 38 depends downwardly along the front side of the upright member 26 of the frame and slightly in the direction of the inboard wheel, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to hold the fork head 56 of the extension arm 45 in retracted position with the tines 58 and 59 in position to be thrust forwardly into therside of a bale. The end of the extension arm 45 is slidably supported on the frame 2 by means of a lug 60 (FIG. 4) depending from the underside of the extension 45 at a point spaced from the fork head t) and which bears upon a track member 61 that is preferably resilient or resiliently attached to the angular portion 3 of the main Iframe member, and which extends in the direction of the outboard wheel, but which terminates short of the bale pass, as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

With the extension arm 45 thus supported, the tinecarrying bar 51 hangs loosely from the pivot pin 54, however, the thrust of the tines is backed so that they engage about midway of the height of( a bale by means of an arm 62 (FIGS. l, 2, 4 and 10) that is attached to the member 51 midway of the ears 52 and 53 and which extends upwardly and terminates in a lip 63 adapted to bear against the underside of the extension arm 45, and thereby prevent downward swinging of the fork head 50. The fork head 50 is latched in this position by means of a gravity operated keeper 64. The keeper 64 is in the form of a loop having a crossbar portion 66 adapted to extend under the lip 63 and ears 67 and 58 for engaging opposite sides of the arm extension for pivotal connection thereto by means of a pivot pin 69 extending through apertures 70 in the ears and a registering aperture 71 in the extension arm, as shown in FIG. 10.

The fork arm is actuated under power provided by traction of the inboard wheel 3 with the ground, as now described, for thrusting of the tines 5S and 59 into a bale (FIG. 2) and lifting the bale from the pass 21 (FIG. 5) upwardly over the upright member 26 of the frame 2 to a position where the bale drops from the tines onto the bed of the truck (FIG. 6), as now to be described.

Connected with the bearing sleeve 39 of the fork arm 38 is a segmental rocker 72 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10). The rocker 72 comprises an arcuate support 73 for a lifting cable 74 which is retained thereon by outwardly diverging side flanges 75 and 76. The side lla-nges 75 and 76 may be lightened as illustrated in the drawings, by cutout portions 77, to leave spokes 78 for carrying the outer rim of the ilanges 75 and 76 from the arcuate support 73 for the lifting cable. The ends of the arcuate support 73 are connected with opposite diametrical sides of the bearing sleeve 39 by bar portions 79, whereby the rocker 72 is ilxed concentrically with the axis of the Shaft 34.

The lifting cable 74 has an end St) thereof xed to the arcuate support 73 as by welding to the end thereof nearest the bale pass 21 (FIG. 1), and the lifting cable 74 extends over the arcuate support and depends from the rocker head, where it is connected with a ilange 81 of a cable winding drum 82 which is rotatably carried on the end 6 of the transverse member 5 of the frame, alongside the outer face of the inboard wheel 3, the connection being provided by a fastening device 84 (FIG. 4). The winding drum 82 has a similar flange 83 opposite the flange 81, and fixed to the outer face thereof is a lug 85 adapted to be engaged by a laterally extending lug 86 on the disk portion of the inboard wheel 3, as shown in FIG. 4. The winding drum 82 is shifted into and out of lug-engaging position by a flanged collar S7 xed to the outer side of the flange 81, and which is adapted to be operated by a shipper 88 which is actuated by the trip mechanisrn when a bale is in position in the bale pass. The retractive movement of the collar is stopped by a xed collar 89 on the end portion of the frame member 5.

The trip mechanism includes a bar 90 extending transversely of the bale pass 2 1, as shown in FIGS. l and 4. One end of the bar is supported on the longitudinal member 20. In the illustrated instance, the bar 96 has a yoke 91 that straddles the cam track portion 30 and which carries a grooved roller 92 (FIGS. 1 and 9) rotatably mounted on a pin 93 having its ends carried by the arms of the yoke 91, where by the peripheral portion of the roller 92 engages the rearwardly converging portion of the track 30. The opposite end of the bar 90 carries a clevis 94 attached to the end 95 of a flexible member, such as a chain 96, which has the opposite end thereof connected with a coil spring 97 attached to the shipper 88, in a manner now to be described.

The shipper 8S straddles the collar 89 between the flanges thereof (FIG. 4), and has an arm 99 forming one arm of a bell crank lever 160. The bell crank lever also includes a hub portion 191 mounted on a stub shaft 102 that projects rearwardly from a lug 103 on the upright member 26. The other arm 104 of the bell crank lever extends laterally from the hub portion 101 in the direction of the bale pass, and has means 105 for Connecting the other end of the coil spring 97 therewith. Also carried by the upright 26 is an arcuate ratchet segment 106 (FIGS. 3 and 4), having notches 107 and 108 adapted to respectively engage a tooth 109 on the arm 104.

In order to yieldably retain the tooth 109 with one or the other notches of the segment 106, the hub 101 of the bell crank 100 is slidably mounted on the stub shaft 102, to be yieldably engaged by one end of a coil spring 110 sleeved on the stub shaft and having its other end abutting a washer 111 that is retained on the stub shaft by a cotter pin 112, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 8.

With the construction thus far described, forward movement of the machine over a bale in effect brings the bale into the baie pass to engage the bar 90 of the tripping mechanism, causing the track 30 to move relatively to the roller, thereby shifting the bar 90 longitudinally and producing a pull on the chain 96, to cause the arm 104 of the bell crank 100 to swing in an anticlockwise direction (FIG. 4) and swing the shipper S8 toward the wheel 3, so as to slide the winding drum 31 until the lug 85 thereon is in the path of the lug 86 on the wheel 3, whereupon the Winding drum 81 starts to rotate with the wheel 3 and winds the lifting cable 74 thereon. When the shipper 88 is thus actuated, the tooth 109 on the arm 104 of the bell crank 100 engages the notch 108 and thereby holds the lugs 85 and 86 in interengagement.

The winding of the lifting cable 74 will cause rocking movement of the rocker head 72 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 4), to cause the fork 38 to swing in a corresponding direction, to shove the arm extension 415 along the track member 61 until the tines 58 and 59 have been thrust into the bale, as the bale is backed against the board 32. Vhen the tines 58 and 59 are fully engaged with the bale, the arm extension 45 straightens out with respect to the arm 38, and the tongue 44 will engage the underside of the arm extension, so that continued movement of the rocket head 72 under power of the inboard wheel 3 will lift the bale from the bale pass and carry it upwardly, as shown in FIG. 5, and over the upright 26 until the fork arm is in a position for the bale to slide from the tines 58 and 59 of the fork head and be discharged into the bed 27 of the truck, as shown in FIG. 6.

The extension arm 45 is locked in position with respect to the arm 38 by a weighted latch member 113 carried on a pin 114 that is xed to a lug 115 on the eX- tension 45. A pin 116 is fixed to the latch member 113 for movement under the tongue 44 to lock the eX- tension arm 45 from pivotal movement on the pivot pin 46 from the time that the extension arm 45 reaches sub stantially horizontal position to the bale dumping position shown in FIG. 6.

To release the fork head 50, and thereby assist in discharging the bale, the keeper 64 will swing by gravity away from the lip 63 to free the arm 62 that controls pivotal movement of the fork head on the arm, as shown in FIG. 6, but the fork head is stopped by a bar 117 (FIGS. 2, 3 and l0) that is carried on the free end of the arm 45.

When the fork arm about reaches near vertical, the lifting drive is automatically thrown out. This is accomplished by a lug 11S on the fork arm 38 engaging an arm 119 having a hub 120 `supported on the end 36 of the shaft 34. The hub also has an arm 121 projecting therefrom. The arm 121 is connected by a link 122 and spring 123 with the arm 104 of the bell crank 100, to rock the bell crank in a clockwise direction (FIG. 4) so that the shipper 88 retracts the winding drum 81, which withdraws the lug 85 from the lug 86. Movement of the arm 121 is stopped by an arm 124 that pro. jects from the upright 26 to hold the arm 119 yieldingly in its initial position. The action of the bell crank lever, of course, disengages the tooth 1119 from the notch 108 and re-engages the tooth 109 with the notch 107, to hold the drum 81 in its retractive position. This movement of the bell crank also restores the trip bar to its original position on the track 30. The hub 120 is retained on the shaft 34 between the sleeve 23 and a washer 12S that is retained on the shaft by a cotter pin 126.

The fork arm is started on its return movement by the action of the spring 123 rocking the lever arms 121 and 119, which applies the action of the spring to the lug 118 to move the arm over top dead center, from Iwhich the return is by gravity. However, the return action is checked by a spring 127 having one end connected to a pin 128 on the plate 40 and its other end con` nected to a lug 129 on the fork arm 38, the spring being loaded under Weight of the fork arm, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and unloaded when the fork arm reaches dumping position as shown in FIG. 6.

A shock absorber 1130 is also used to check the descent and smooth out the action of the spring. The shock absorber is of conventional design and connects a pin 131 on the plate 40 with a pin 132 on the arrn 38.

In using the bale loader, the trucks used for hauling bales from a field are each equipped with a bracket 15 that may be attached to the running board thereof. A bale loader 1 constructed and assembled as described may be adjusted to the ydesired position alongside the bed of the truck or other vehicle by adjusting the length of the tongue. This is accomplished by removing the bolt 14 and sliding the section 13 in or out of the section 12, after which the bolt is reapplied. The bale loader is secured to the bracket 15 by a coupling pin 133.

Forward movement of the truck will then draw the bale loader alongside the truck and parallel therewith (FIG. 1). The truck will be guided down a row of bales A so that the guide terminals 23 and 24 receive the bales therebetween as they are encountered and slide them into position for entry to the bale pass 21, where the backing means 32 slides alongeside of the rst of the bales A. The working parts of the loader, in at-rest position, are as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, with the fork mechanism 33 retracted at the inner side of a bale A, ibut with the tines 58 and 59 held in rigid position because the lip 63 on the arm 62 is latched by the keeper 64 and the depending lug 60 in the fork arm extension is resting upon and supported by the track member 61.

The trip bar 90 comes into contact with the rear end of the bale A as shown in FIG. 1, whereupon the track 30 rides under the rolle-r 30 and produces a pull or jerk on the chain 96. This sets the fork mechanism 33 in operation. The chain 96 rocks the bell crank 100 in an anticlockwise direction (FIG. 4) and causes the shipper 88 to shift the winding drum 82 in the direction of the traction wheel 3, to carry the lug thereon into the path of the Idriving lug 86. When the lug 86 picks up t-he lug S5, the winding drum 82 will begin to turn. The lugs will be held in engagement because the tooth 109 on the bell crank lever 104 enters the notch 108 of the rack 106.

The cable 74, being wound on the drum 82, rocks the head 72 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 4), swinging the fork arm 38 on the shaft 34 in the direction of the bale A and sliding the arm extension 45 along the track or guide 61, to thrust the fines 58 and 59 into the side of the bale. During this time the backing means or board 32 provides means for holding the bale (see FIG. 2). The tongue 44 on the arm 42 now cornes ito engagement with the underside of the arm 45, to stop hinging of the arms on their pin connection 46, and lifting of the bale A begins. The weighted arm 113 holds the pin 116 so that the tongue 44 slides thereover to lock the arms so that they are rigid with respect to their hinge connection (see FIG. 5). When the fork arms approach near vertical, the keeper 67 drops from locking engagement: wit-h the lip 63 of the arm 62, and further lift of the fork arm brings the bale over top dead center. The weight of the bale now causes the fork head to rock forwardly on its pivot pin S4 until 7, the ears 52` and 53 'thereof are stopped by the bar 117. The' tines are then pointed downwardly at an angle, so that the bale A slides therefrom onto the truck bed 27' (FIG. 6). Just prior to release of the bale, the lug 118 on the fork arm 38 engages the arm 119, thereby rocking the lever 121 on the shaft 34 in a clockwise direction. This loads the spring 123 and rocks the bell crank 100 (FIG. 4), causing the shipper 88 to shift the cable winding drum 82 and withdraw the lug 85. from driven relation with the lug 86. The action of the spring 123 now pulls the arm 119 in a reverse direction. Since the arm 119 is bearing upon the pin 118, the fork arms are moved back over top dead center with respect to the :pivot 34. The fork arm, after passing top dead center, is free to fall to its retracted position under force of gravity. However, during lifting of the bale the spring 127 and shock absorber 130 have retracted (compare FIGS. 2 and 6) so that they come into play` to check and soften the return action, particularly just before the. lug 60 Imakes Icontact with the track 61. On return movement, the fork head swings on the pivot pin 54 to its original position, where the lip 63 engages the under Iside of the extension arm 45. By the time the lug 60 engages the track 61, the keeper 67 has shifted its position, by gravity, to reengage under the lip` 63 and lock the fork head on the arm 45. -By this time the tongue 44 has moved out from under the pin 116, so that the fork arms under weight thereof break downwardly on the hinge pin 46 to retract the fork head on the track 61. Movement of the rocker head 72 under weight of the fork mechanism rewraps the cable 74 thereon and unwraps it from the cable drum 82. As soon as thev bale was lifted from the balev pass, the action in the spring 97 restoredk the trip bar 90 to its. original position, as shown in FIG. 1.

The lparts are now in their at-rest position and ready to function by the time the bale loader reaches the next baleY in the row, whereupon the operations as above described are repeated.

FIGS. l2 to l5 i-llustrate a modified form of fork head which is designated by the numeral 150, and may be substituted for the fork head 50 of the first des-cribed invention. The fork head 151) includes a yoke member 151 having arms 152 and 153 pivotally suspended from a pin 154 carried by the arm extension 45, so that' the cross member 155 of the yoke provides a loop 156 through which the track member 61 extends when the fork arm is at rest position. The tines 157 and 158 are attached to the bar member 155 and project forwardly to impale a bale in the manner of the forkhead 5t) previously described. The lug 69 of the extension arm 45 slides on the track member 61 upon actuation of the rocker end of the fork ar-m. The yoke member 151 is held from pivoting on the arm' extension 45 by a stop pin 159 that engages the arm-s of theyoke member, as shown in- FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, so that when the fork arm is actuated, the tines 157 and 158 are rigid. The initial movement is to move the arm extension 45 toward the outer end of the track member 61, with theV lug 60 sliding thereon. This movement thrusts the tines 157 and 158 into the side of the bale A as shown in FIG. 14. The thru-st of the tines shifts the bale against the backing mean-s, to impale the bale as previously described, at which time the fork arm lifts and carries the bale A upwardly and over top dead center. As the arm extension 45 ypasses the vertical, the weight of the bale A rocks the yoke member 151 on the pivot pin 154 until the outer ends 1611 of the yoke arms 152 and'153 strike the stop pin 159, as shownl in'FIG. l5, so that the tines 157 and 153 are pointed downwardly at a sufficient angle for the bale AY to slide therefrom into the bed of the vehicle. Upon return movement of the fork arm, the yoke member 151 rocks in the opposite direction as the arm extension 45- passes the vertical, until the. yoke arms again engage the stop pin 159. When the lug 60 reaches the track member 61 the descent of the arm is resiliently stopped thereby, with the yoke member 151 depending in registry with the end of the guide track 61. The final movement of the fork arm is to draw the end of the arm extension retra-ctively along the track member 61 until stopped by a lug 161 which is engaged by the lug 60 as shown in FiG. 12. In this position the tines 157 and 158 are retracted from the bale pass, ready to impale and lift another bale. It is obvious that the fork head of the modified form is of simpler construction and operation, since no latch arm 63 is required to control swinging thereof on the pivot pin 154.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that the bale loader of the present invention is simpler in construction and operation than the bale loader of the above mentioned patent, consequently, it may be produced at a lower cost, is of lighter weight, and has less draft.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1`. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a field, said loa-der including a mobile frame for movement alongside the vehicle,

said fram-e having a bale pass at a side remote from the vehicle,

bale backing means on the frame extending along the outer side of the bale pass for engaging the side of a bale as the loader progresses over a bale,

a fork arm having a movable support on the frame,

a fork head carried on said arm and having tines for impaling the balle backed by said backing means, means on the frame for actuating the arm to thrust said tines into the bale and for carrying the baleY upwardly over the vehicle, and

means responsive to presen-ce of a bale in the bale pass to effect actuation of said fork anni actuating means.

2. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as described in claim 1,

wherein the fork head is pivotally mounted on the fork arm and includes latch means connecting the fork head with the fork arm for holding the fork head with the tinesy rigid during thrust of the tines into the bale and to release the fork head to pivot on said arm for sliding of the bale from said tines when `the bale is over said vehicle.

3. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a field, said loader including a mobile frame for movement alongside the vehicle,

said frame having a bale pass at a side remote from the vehicle,

an upright on the side of the frame next the vehicle,

baleV backing means on the frame extendingV along the outer side of the bale pass for engaging the ide of a bale as the loader progresses over a bale, a fork arm having a movable support on the upright, afork head carried on said arm and having tines for impaling the bale backed by said backing means, means on the frame for. actuating the arm to thrust said tines into the bale for carryingV the bale upwardly over said upright to pitch the bale onto the vehicle, trip means extending across the bale pass and activated by contact of the bale to effect actuation 0f said fork arm actuating means, and means connected with said fork ar-m for returning the fork arm to its original position to engage and load the next bale to be encountered in the row of bales.

4. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a field, as described in claim 3, and including release means carried by the upright for releasing the actuating means from connection with the fork arm, and

means for return of the fork arm to its original' position.

Q. 5. A kloader as described in claim 4, and including shock absorbing means connecting a fixed part on the uprightwit'n the fork arm to check the fork arm on its return movement. 6. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a field, said loader including a mobile frame for movement alongside the vehicle,

said frame having a bale pass at the side thereof remote from the vehicle,

an upright on the side of the frame next the vehicle,

bale backing means on the frame extending along the outer side of the bale pass for engaging the side of a bale as the loader progresses over a bale,

a fork arm having pivotal support on the upright and actuating means connected with the fork arm for swingnig the fork arm to slide the arm extension on its support for thrusting said tines into the bale while backed by the backing means and to carry the bale upwardly over said upright onto the vehicle,

power means for said actuating means,

. means for interconnecting said power means with the fork arm actuating means,

trip means carried by the frame and extending across the bale pass for contact with the bale to eiiect actuation of said connecting means to actuate the fork arm under power, and

, means releasing the actuating means for the power means for returning the fork arm and its extension arm to their original position to engage and load the next bale to be encountered in said row.

7. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a eld, said loader including a mobile frame for movement alongside the vehicle,

said frame having a bale pass at the side thereof remote from the vehicle,

an upright on the side of the frame next the vehicle,

bale backing means on the frame extending along the outer side of the bale pass for engaging the side of ablale as the loader progresses over a bale,

va fork arm having pivotal support on the upright and depending from the upright in idle position,

an arm extensionhaving pivotal connection with said depending arm andhavinga free end extending toward the bale pass,

a fork head carried on the free end of the extension arm 'and provided with tines,

vmeans on the frame and cooperating with a part on the extension arm for supporting the fork head with said tines in position to impale the bale thereon while backed by said backing means, actuating means' connected with the fork arm for swinging the fork arm to slide the arm extension on its support for thrusting said tines into the bale while backed bythe backing means and to straighten out the extension arm with respect to the fork arm for `carrying the bale upwardly over said upright onto the vehicle, a tongue on the fork arm and engageable with the extension arm' to retain the extension arm in stiff relation with the fork arm,

'latch means on the extension arm'and arranged to move under said tongue, power means for said actuating means,

means for interconnecting said power means with the fork arm actuating means,

trip means carried by the frame and extending across the bale pass for contact with the bale to eiect actuation of said connecting means to actuate the fork arm under power, and

means releasing the actuating means from the power means for returning the fork arm and its extension arm to their original position to engage and load the next bale to be encountered in said row.

3. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a iield as described in claim 7,

wherein the fork head is pivotally carried on the free end of the extension arm,

and including an arm on the fork head and having a lip portion engageable with the extension arm for retaining the fork head With said tines in position to impale the bale, and

a yoke pivotally depending from the extension arm and engaging under the lip to lock the fork head from pivotal movement until the bale is in near vertical position and to release the lip responsive to gravity for movement of the fork head under weight of the bale to facilitate sliding of the bale off said tines.

9. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a eld, said loader including a frame having an outboard Wheel and an inboard traction wheel for movement alongside the vehicle,

said frame having a bale pass at the inner side of the outboard wheel,

an upright on the side of the frame carried by the inboard traction wheel,

bale backing means on the frame extending along the outer side of the bale pass for engaging the side of a bale as the loader progresses over a bale,

a fork arm having pivotal support on the upright and depending from the upright in idle position,

a rocker head on the pivotally supported end of the fork arm,

a cable winding drum rotatable coaxially on the frame with the axis of rotation of the inboard traction Wheel,

a lug projecting from said traction wheel,

a complementary lug on the cable winding drum,

a cable operating over the rocker head and connected with the cable winding drum,

a shipper for shifting the cable winding drum to engage and disengage said lugs,

an arm extension having pivotal connection with said depending arm and having a free end extending toward the bale pass,

a fork head carried on the free end of the extension arm and provided with tines,

means on the frame and cooperating with a part on the extension arm for supporting the fork head with said tines in position to impale the bale thereon,

trip means carried by the frame and extending across the bale pass for actuating the shipper by Contact of the bale with said trip means to elTect winding of the cable on said drum and effect actuation of said fork arm to slide the arm extension on its support for thrusting said tines into the bale while backed by the backing means and to carry the bale upwardly over said upright onto the vehicle,

a rock lever having connection with the shipper to actuate the shipper in a direction to disengage said lugs,

an arm on the rock lever and terminating near the uppermost travel of the fork arm, and

vmeans connected with said fork arm swinging means for returning the fork arm and its extension arm to their original position after release of the bale.

10. In a bale loader,

a mobile frame including va generally transverse main member having an end providing a wheel mounting,

a traction wheel rotatably carried on the wheel mounta yoke member iixed to the other end of said main member and having inner and outer depending arms providing an entrance to a bale pass,

a longitudinal member connected to the outer depending arm and extending along the outer side of the bale pass,

a wheel mounting carried by a part of the frame and in substantially axial alignment with the first named Wheel mounting,

guide means projecting forwardly from the depending arm of the yoke to guide bales into the entrance to said bale pass,

a backing means on the longitudinal member and extending along the bale pass,

a tongue connected with the main member for connection of the bale loader with a vehicle on which bales are to be loaded,

means carried by the frame and actuated by the traction wheel for impaling a bale thereon while backed by said backing means and lifting the bale into the truck, and

trip means slidable on the longitudinal member of the frame and extending across the bale pass for setting said impaling and lifting means into motion,

11. A loader as described in claim 10, wherein said trip means includes a bar having a yoke on one end,

a cam track provided on the longitudinal member, and a roller carried in the yoke and engaging the cam track. 12. In a bale loader,

a mobile frame including a generally transverse main member having an end providing a wheel mounting,

a traction wheel rotatably carried on the wheel mounta yoke member xed to the other end of the main member and having inner and outer depending arms providing an entrance to a bale pass,

a longitudinal'member connected to the outer depending arm of the yoke member and extending along the outer side of the bale pass,

a Wheel mounted on the longitudinal member in substantially axial alignment with the iirst named wheel mounting,

a bale guide means projecting forwardly from the inner depending arm of the yoke to cooperate with the forward end of the `longitudinal member for guiding bales into the entrance to said bale pass,

a bale backing means on the longitudinal member and extending along the outer side of the bale pass,

a tongue connected with the main member for connection of the bale loader with a vehicle on which bales are to be loaded,

a fork at the inner side of the bale pass and having tine means directed toward the bale backing means when the fork is in one position, and

means for actuating the fork to lift the bale from the bale pass including means for initially thrusting the tine means of said fork into the side of the bale when the bale is held by the backing means.

13. In a bale loader,

a mobile frame including a generally transverse main member having an end providing a wheel mounting,

a traction Wheel rotatably carried on the wheel mountlng,

a yoke member fixed to the other end of the main member and having inner and outer depending arms providing an entrance to a bale pass,

a longitudinal member connected to the outer depending arm and extending along the outer side of the bale pass,

a wheel mounting on the longitudinal member in substantially axial alignment with the first named wheel mounting,

guide means projecting forwardly from the depending arm of the yoke to guide bales into the entrance to Said bale pass,

a backing means on the longitudinal member and extending along the bale pass,

a tongue connected with the main member for connection of the bale loader with a vehicle on which bales are to be loaded,

an upright on the main member and having a bearing sleeve on its upper end,

a shaft fixed in the bearing sleeve,

a fork arm journaled on the shaft,

a fork head carried by the fork arm and provided with tines,

fork arm actuating means,

means projecting from the main member and cooperating with apart on the fork arm for supporting the fork head with said tines in position to impale the bale thereon while backed by said backing means,

driving means on the traction wheel,

actuating means for the fork arm,

means for connecting the driving means with the fork arm actuating means, and

a trip bar slidable on the longitudinal member of the frame and extending across the bale pass to be contacted by the bale to actuate said connecting means for actuation of the fork arm to drive the tines into the bale and lift the bale into the vehicle under power provided by said traction wheel.

14. A bale loader as described in claim 13, and including means engageable by a part on the fork arm for releasing the driving connection for return of the fork arm to its original position.

15. In a bale loader,

a mobile frame including a generally transverse main member having an end for mounting a wheel,

a traction wheel rotatably carried on the wheel mountlng,

a yoke ymember having an inner depending arm connected to the other end of the main member and having an outer depending arm providing an entrance to a bale pass,

a longitudinal member connected to the outer depending arm and extending along the outer side of the bale pass,

a wheel mounting on the frame in substantially axial alignment with the rst named wheel mounting, guide means projecting forwardly from the depending arm of the yoke to guide bales into the entrance to said Abale pass,

a backing means on the longitudinal member and extending along the bale pass,

a tongue connected with the main member for connection of the bale loader with a vehicle on which bales are to be loaded,

an upright on the main member and having a bearing sleeve,

a shaft xed in the bearing sleeve,

a fork arm journaled on the shaft and depending therefrom in a rest position,

an arm extension having pivotal connection with said depending arm and having a free end extending toward the bale pass,

a fork head carried on the free end of the extension arm and provided with tines,

means projecting from the main member and cooperating with a part on the extension arm for supporting the fork head with said tines in position to impale the bale thereon while backed by said backing means,

a rocker head on the journaied end of the fork arm,

a cable winding drum coaxial with the axis of the inboard traction Wheel,

a lug projecting from said traction wheel,

a complementary lug on the cable winding drum,

a cable operating over the rocker head and connected with the cable winding drum,

a shipper for shifting the cable winding drum to engage and disengage said lugs,

trip means carried by the longitudinal member and extending across the bale pass to be tripped by contact of the bale and having connection wtih the stops on the arm and engageable by a part of the tine Imounting means for controlling pivotal movement of the tines,

a track member carried by the frame and supporting means responsive to presence of a bale in the bale pass to effect actuation of said fork arm actuating means. 17. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the vehicle proceeds along a row `of bales in a eld, said loader including a mobile frame for movement alongside the vehicle,

said frame having a bale pass at a side remote from the vehicle,

bale backing means on the frame extending along the shipper to operate the shipper for starting movement outer side of the bale pass for engaging the side of of said fork arm under power for thrusting said tines a bale as the loader progresses over a bale,

into the bale and for carrying the bale upwardly a fork arm having movable support on the frame,

over said upright onto the vehicle, a yoke member having tines projecting therefrom for a rock lever journaled on said shaft and having connecimpaling the bale backed by said backing means,

tion with the shipper, 15 means for pivotally carrying the yoke member on the an arm on the rock lever near the uppermost travel of forward end of said fork arm,

the fork arm, and stop means engaged by the yoke member to control means connected on the fork arm and engageable with pivotal movement thereof,

said arm of the rock lever to actuate the shipper in a track member on the frame and extending through a direction to disengage said lugs and free the fork the yoke member in retracted position of the fork arm and its extension for return to their original arm to guide and support the forward end of the position. fork arm,

16. A loader for loading bales onto a vehicle as the means on the frame for actuating the arm to thrust the vehicle proceeds along a row of bales in a field, said fork arm along the track member to impale a bale loader including on the tines and for swinging the arm upwardly; in

a {BOlJll ffme'fof movement alongslfle the Vehlde: carrying the bale upwardly into a position over the Sad rflmf havmg a bale Pass at a 51de remote from vehicle where the yoke member leaves the stop means the Vehlcle and pivots downwardly under Weight of the bale to bale backing means on the frame extending along the Slide the bale Off of Said tines ter side of the bale pass for envaging the side of a ou means for returnmg the fork arm for support on the bale as the loader progresses over a bale,

- t1 ack means, and

a oik arm having movable support on the frame,

tines means responsive to presence of a bale xn the bale pass means pivotally mounting the tines on the outer end i0 'ct actuatlon of Sald fork arm actuatmg means of the arm, 1n lifting the bale.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 733 821 2/1956 Willrodt 214-359 I ma tfitnl to me gggggg lggg per; 16,;

along the track member to thrust said tines into the aXWe bale and for carrying the bale upwardly over the FOREIGN PATENTS Vehlde 549,799 12/1957 canada.

said tines being pivotal under weight of the bale when the fork arm has passed the vertical to slide the bale N E from ot the tines into the vehicle, and GERALD M FORLI; ZA Primary xammer 

1. A LOADER FOR LOADING BALES ONTO A VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS ALONG A ROW OF BALES IN A FIELD, SAID LOADER INCLUDING A MOBILE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ALONGSIDE THE VEHICLE, SAID FRAME HAVING A BALE PASS AT A SIDE REMOTE FROM THE VEHICLE, BALE BRICKING MEANS ON THE FRAME EXTENDING ALONG THE OUTER SIDE OF THE BALE PASS FOR ENGAGING THE SIDE OF A BALE AS THE LOADER PROGRESSES OVER A TABLE, A FORK ARM HAVING A MOVABLE SUPPORT ON THE FRAME, A FORK HEAD CARRIED ON SAID ARM AND HAVING TINES FOR IMPALING THE BALE BACKED BY SAID BACKING MEANS, MEANS ON THE FRAME FOR ACTUATING THE ARM TO THRUST SAID TINES INTO THE BALE AND FOR CARRYING THE BALE UPWARDLY OVER THE VEHICLE, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PRESENCE OF A BALE IN THE BALE PASS TO EFFECT ACTUATION OF SAID FORK ARM ACTUATING MEANS. 